International Maritime Law Institute

What International Maritime Law Institute does

The IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) is a post-graduate educational institution founded in 1988 and headquartered on the University of Malta campus in Msida, Malta, operating under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations. It delivers specialized training in international maritime law, with particular emphasis on IMO regulations, the law of the sea, shipping law, maritime security law, marine environmental law, and the drafting of national legislation that incorporates international maritime treaties into domestic law. The Institute runs a portfolio of programmes including the LL.M., Master of Humanities (M.Hum.), Advanced Diploma, Research Degrees (M.Jur. and Ph.D.), a joint M.Phil with the World Maritime University, and a rolling catalogue of short specialized courses, supported by a Distinguished Visiting Fellows Programme drawing practitioners from IMO, ITLOS, ICJ, FAO, ILC, CMI, and ICS.

IMLI's primary customer base is government-nominated maritime officials and legal advisers from developing countries, sponsored by their governments or by fellowship donors including The Nippon Foundation, Lloyd's Register Foundation, the IMO, the European Commission, EMSA, the World Bank, and UNDP; 50% of places are reserved for women candidates. The Institute supplements this core cohort with independent applicants, visiting researchers, and mid-career legal professionals. Revenue is generated from tuition and programme fees (M.Phil priced at €37,000 over two years; Research Degree at €8,415 per annum; Advanced Diploma at €2,773-€5,127; specialized courses at €1,000-€2,900), non-refundable application and processing fees, branded merchandise sales through an online shop, and the substantial layer of voluntary contributions from governments, foundations, and international development assistance organizations that underwrite fellowships. Distribution is handled directly through the Malta campus and the IMLI online shop, with content marketing conducted via the imli.org website, IMLI News and e-News newsletters, graduation ceremonies broadcast on Facebook Live and YouTube, and the Lloyd's Register Foundation "Voices from IMLI" testimonial initiative.

Name

International Maritime Law Institute

Legal name

IMO International Maritime Law Institute

Website

https://imli.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IMLI is a post-graduate institute in Malta operating under the International Maritime Organization, training government-nominated officials from developing countries in international maritime law, legislation drafting, and the law of the sea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Law Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA)

Keywords

• Maritime law education
• Postgraduate legal training
• Maritime legislation drafting
• Law of the sea
• IMO regulations training

Headquarters

HQ city

Valletta

HQ country

Malta

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Programme Fees: The Institute generates revenue through tuition fees for various programmes including LL.M., M.Hum., Advanced Diploma, M.Phil., and Research Degree programmes. Fees vary by programme and are payable upon admission or registration.
2. Merchandise Sales: The IMLI Shop sells branded merchandise including ties, scarves, caps, polo shirts, t-shirts, hoodies, bags, and paperweights with IMLI crests.
3. Application and Processing Fees: Non-refundable application processing fees ranging from €100-€200 depending on the programme, plus fellowship application fees.
4. Fellowship Funding: Voluntary contributions from governments, companies, foundations, and international development assistance organizations fund fellowships for government-nominated officials particularly from developing States, covering programme fees, travel, and health insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IMLI delivers post-graduate education and research in international maritime law, with programmes covering law of the sea, shipping law, maritime security law, and marine environmental law. The Institute also provides specialized training in drafting national legislation that incorporates international maritime treaties (particularly IMO instruments) into domestic law, along with research degrees and short specialized courses.

Product overview

IMLI offers a portfolio of graduate-level academic programmes in international maritime law: the core LL.M. Programme and Master of Humanities (M.Hum.) Programme provide post-graduate education in international maritime law; the Advanced Diploma Programme offers flexible credit-based learning for working professionals; the Research Degree Programme leads to M.Jur. and Ph.D. qualifications; and the M.Phil Programme is a joint offering with the World Maritime University. Specialized short courses cover maritime security law, marine environment protection, law of ports, seafarers' rights, and law of treaties. The institute also publishes the three-volume IMLI Manual on International Maritime Law and the IMLI Treaties on Global Ocean Governance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LL.M. Programme (Master of Laws in International Maritime Law) Post-graduate degree covering all areas of international maritime law including law of the sea, shipping law, maritime security law and marine environmental law, with specialized training in drafting maritime legislation and a 10,000-word supervised dissertation. Targeted at government-nominated officials, lawyers, legal advisers and judges.
• Master of Humanities (M.Hum.) Programme in International Maritime Legislation
• Advanced Diploma in International Maritime Law
• Research Degree Programme (M.Jur. and Ph.D.)
• Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) Programme
• Specialized Short Courses
• Visiting Researchers Programme
• IMLI Manual on International Maritime Law
• IMLI Treatises on Global Ocean Governance

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 maritime professionals trained from 146 countries serving as Heads of States, Attorneys-General, Ministers, Directors of Maritime Administrations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• International Maritime Organization (IMO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMLI is the IMO's research and training institute for international maritime law. The IMO Secretary-General serves as Chairman of the IMLI Governing Board. Special emphasis is given to international regulations adopted by the International Maritime Organization. The Institute works closely with IMO to train maritime law experts.
• World Maritime University (WMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe M.Phil programme was designed in partnership by IMO's two sister institutions, IMLI and WMU. Students spend the first academic year at IMLI Malta following the LL.M. programme, then move to WMU Malmö, Sweden for studies with focus on Ocean Sustainability, Governance and Management. Students also receive complimentary attendance at international conferences organized annually at both institutions.
• University of MaltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMLI is located on the premises of the University of Malta Campus. Students experience an inter-cultural dialogue at the Institute located in Malta's mild Mediterranean climate. The Institute collaborates with the University for academic programmes and graduation ceremonies held at Sir Temi Zammit Hall UOM.
• Distinguished Visiting Fellows (IMO, IOPC, ITLOS, ICJ, FAO, ILC, CMI, ICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistinguished visiting fellows come from leading universities and international institutions including the International Maritime Organization, International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, International Court of Justice, FAO, International Law Commission, Comité Maritime International, and International Chamber of Shipping. Others include eminent practitioners, diplomats and leading maritime industry personalities. The programme introduces students to latest developments and offers networking opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Maritime University (WMU): WMU is IMO's sister postgraduate institution based in Malmö, Sweden, offering master's and doctoral programmes in maritime affairs. It is IMLI's most direct counterpart: a UN-system maritime postgraduate training provider with which IMLI jointly runs the M.Phil programme.
• University of Southampton — Institute of Maritime Law: One of the world's leading university-based maritime law research and teaching centres, offering LLM and research degrees in admiralty and maritime law. Comparable as a postgraduate maritime law educator competing for the same student demographic.
• Erasmus University Rotterdam — Maritime and Transport Law Department: European law faculty offering specialized LLM tracks in Maritime and Transport Law within Europe's largest port city. Comparable as a postgraduate maritime law educator serving international and European students.
• University of Hamburg — Hamburg Studies on Maritime Affairs: Interdisciplinary postgraduate programme combining maritime law, economics, and policy based in Germany's major maritime hub. Comparable as a postgraduate maritime law educator with European industry connections.
• Tulane University Law School — Maritime Law Programs: Tulane's longstanding Admiralty Law programme (rooted in the historic Maritime Law Center) offers LLM specialization in admiralty and maritime law. Comparable as a US-based postgraduate maritime law educator with established brand and alumni network.
• National University of Singapore — Centre for Maritime Law: NUS's leading Asia-Pacific maritime law research and LLM programme, supported by top shipping industry partners. Comparable as a postgraduate maritime law educator with strong Asia-Pacific reach and industry funding.
• Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law (University of Oslo): Norwegian interdisciplinary institute combining teaching and research in maritime law across the University of Oslo and NTNU. Comparable to IMLI as an academically specialized maritime law training and research centre with international student reach.
• International Maritime Academy (IMO-IMA Trieste): IMO-affiliated training academy based in Trieste, Italy, delivering specialized maritime training courses to government and industry participants. Comparable to IMLI as another IMO-family institution providing specialized maritime professional education.

Emerging players

• Lloyd's Maritime Academy: Commercial maritime training provider offering short courses, certificates, and professional development across shipping, law, and marine insurance. Comparable as a maritime professional training operator with broader commercial delivery than IMLI but narrower regulatory focus.

Broad incumbents

• International Maritime Organization (IMO): Parent organization and the UN specialized agency that established IMLI and chairs its Governing Board. Comparable as the overarching maritime regulator that frames the regulatory content IMLI teaches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IMOIMLI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-maritime-law-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Maritime Law Institute